Contact-breaker device for electromagnetic vibrating members.



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A. H. MATTRE & v. H. e. MARTIN.

CONTACT BREAKER DEVICE FOR ELECTROMAGNETIC VIBRATING MEMBERS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 18. 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

INVENTORS Mala 7 M367 fizzrw wwwm E WMJM ATTORNEYS A. H. MAITRE 6: V. H.G. MARTIN.

CONTACT BREAKER DEVICE FOR ELECTROMAGNETIC VIBRATING MEMBERS.APPLICATION FILED FEB. 18, 1914.

1,1 88,295. Patented June 20, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2. Flg fi F .JT 9 d I 1 9 tr j o 7 i a I LvdLnJ mzimm(1%- ma-wmm ATTORNEYS A. H. MAITRE & V. ,H','G. MARTIN. councr BREAKERDEVICE FOR ELECTROMAGNETIC VIBRATING MEMBERS.

APPLICATION FILED FEP. I8; 1914- 1,188,295. Patented June 20, 1916.

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ATIURHEYS A. H. MA ITRE & V. H. G. MARTIN.

CONTACT BREAKER DEVICE FOR ELECTROMAGNETIC VIBRATING MEMBERS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 18, 19M.

Patented June 20, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4- Fig. 9

INYENTORS 7%.;15 7714,1351.

lwzm' M 3r ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALCIDE HECTOR MAITRE AND VICTOR HENRI GASTON MARTIN, OF ROUEN, FRANCE.

CONTACT-BREAKER DEVICE FOR ELECTROMAGNETIC VIBRATING MEMBERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 20, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we,.ALo1on HECTOR- MAiTRE and VICTOR HENRI GASTONMARTIN, both citizens of the Republic of France and both residing at 4L2'Rue Damiette, Rouen, France, have inventedanew and usefulContact-Breaker Device for Electromagnetic Vibrating Members of whichthe following is a specification.

The present invention relates to contactbreaker devices forelectromagnetic vibrating members, and more particularly to the devicesdescribed in German Patent No. 229,964, dated August 10th, 1909, and S.Patent 1,106,230, dated Aug. 4, 1914. As is known these devices arecharacterized es pecially by the fact that the contactv piece intendedto close the electrical circuit by its contact with the. vibrating body(gong, plate, string, etc.) is carried by a movable arm mountedupon apivotyand capable of making oscillations of small amplitude.

Experiments have shown that in order to obtain a pure note and in orderthat this note may be attained rapidly, it is advantageous, especiallyin the case of setting piano-strings in'vibration, to reduce to thegreatest extent possible the amplitude. of the oscillations of themovable contact iece.

The present invention consists ofa evice which is adapted to producethisresult, its principle being to brake or damp the oscillations of themovable contact plece.

The annexed drawing shows by way of example various forms ofconstruction of the object of the invention.

Figures 1 to5 show forms of construction applied to devices for settingin vibra-v tion the wires or strings of a pianoforte. Fig. 1 is anelevation of a first form of construction." Fig. 2 is a section on line2+2 of Fig. 1, seen from above. Fig. 3 is an elevation of a second formof construction. Fig. 4.- is a part view in plan, corresponding to Fig.3. Fig. 5 is an elevation .of a third form of construction. Figs. 6 to 8show a form of construction applied to a device .for vibrating a steelgong. Fig. 6 is a view of the device in elevation. Fig. 7

is a plan corresponding to Fig. 6. Fig. 8

is a part section on line 8-8 of Fig. 6, seen from the right. Figs. 9and .10 show a form of execution applied to the actuation of a vibratingplate. Fig. 9 is an elevation of the device. Fig. 10 is a plancorresponding to Fig. 9.

In the form of construction of-Figs. 1 and 2,thecontact piece or,instead of being mounteddirectly upon the piano string A, (as describedin said U. S. Patent 1,106,230) is 'carried by a vibrating rod aconnected to the string A by a Wire or by a rigid member a which servesto transmit to the part a the vibrations of the string A. C is anoscillating plate mounted on an axle c and carrying the contact piece 0The axle c is continued downward by a stirrup j, the whole beingjournaled on cone-centers in a fixed support D. A spring F tendsconstantly to revolve the unit formed by the axle c and stirrup j andtherefore also the plate C, in such a manner as to bring the contactpiece 0 against the contact piece a. The plate C is integral with anarmature e placed under the influence of two electromagnets B.

In the example shown the electromagnets I magnets B which exert theirattraction upon the string A. Consequently the attraction of thearmature e by the electromagnets B and the rupture of the circuit atthe. contact 0 a will take place insynchronism with the variations ofthe excit ing current of the principal electromagnets B.

Between the two arms of the stirrup j there is pivoted by means of twoconecenters a spindle is upon which is keyed a heavy flywheel 70 Aflexible plate 7' carried by the stirrup j bears upon the periphery ofthe flywheel is, and a screw 7' allows of adjusting the pressure whichthe plate j exerts upon the surface of the flywheel k The working of thedevice is as follows :When the plate C oscillates under the infiuen'ceof the electromagnets B and the spring F, it rotates the axle c, thestir rup and the flexible plate of the friction exerted by the late jupon the flywheel is, the plate j en tends to carrythe flywheel is withit; but owing to its inertia, the flywheel opposes a resistance to theforce tending to set it in rotation. Consequently the oscillation of.

the late C is braked without being abso- By reason In the arrangement ofFigs. 3 and 4:, the contact piece a is placed near -the pianostring A. Eis the electromagnet which vibrates the string A, while. F is a springcarrying a non-oxidizing contact a. and pressing at its curved .end uponthe string A so as to make the contact a. move with the string, F is anopposing spring pressing against the spring F through a pad of softmaterial such as a'piece of felt.

c is a non-oxidizing contact formed preferably of a bundle of fine wiresconveniently twisted and fitted in a soft material such as rubber itselfgripped between the two arms d of a fork or pincer device mounted uponthe movable arm (15a small piece of sheet metal bent to U shape holdstogether the arms of the pincer. One end of the flexible wire 0 bearsupon the contact piece a; the other end of the wire 0 is folded betweenthe rubber and one of the arms d of the fork or pincer so as toestablish the electrical connection of c with the movable arm C andtherefore with the forked copper support H, between the arms tromagnete, in such a way that by pull,

ing or pushing this electromagnet it is possible to regulate the forceof attraction which it exerts upon the armature 9 As in the previousexample,-the electromagnete is supposed to be connected in series in theexciting circuit of the main electromagnets E which exert theirattraction upon the. string A. K is a distance-piece of which theextremities are riveted tightly with friction washers upon the checks ofthe support H. A spring L, wound around the dis tance piece K and fixedthereto at one of its ends, has its other end engaged in the slot Z ofthe movable arm C, in such a way that by revolving the distance piece onits axis the tension of the spring L and the pressure at the contacts 0a can be varied. The flywheel l is keyed upon a shaft 2 journaled in thearms of a fork3, the pressure between the arms being adjustable by.means of a screw 4 which may be provided with a lock-nut. The flywheel 1and its shaft 2 are preferably in one piece so as to be perfectlycentered and made of copper so that the friction of the cones may takeplace copper upon copper, without play and with reat freedom; but it isevident that the. siaft 2 might be supported upon two trunnions turningin two holes lined with a non-metallic substance such as horn in orderto avoid noise. The fork 3 is itself pivoted by means of a spindle 5 ina second fork or pincer device 6 made of brass, one arm 7 of which isriveted at 8 to the support H. The riveting is done tightly with arm C.The upper end of the movable arm C terminates'in a circular are 11, thecenter of which is at the axle 0 of the movablearm C. The flywheelpresses its shaft 2. upon this arc at a point in the vertical linepassing through 0, so as not to alter the pressure of the contacts 0 a.When the movable arm is drawn along slowly, for example by the returnspring L, the flywheel 1 rolls upon the circular arc 11; but if themovement of the movable arm is rapid, the rolling cannot take place, andthe shaft 2 then slips upon the are 11, which produces a damping efiect.It is evident that the weight of the flywheel 1, the relation of itsdiameter to that of'the shaft 2, and the tension of the counter-pressurespring 10 must be suitably regulated, the

damping having to be more powerful when the notes are of deeper tone.Two stops or shoulders 12 and 13 prevent the flywheel from becomingdisengaged from the arm and limit the stroke of the latter.

It is evident that the position of the flywheel is given merely by wayof example and that it may equally well be'made to act beneath or behindthe movable arm 0; it is also evident that the. position of the axle cat the center of the arc is not absolutely necessary and that a can beplaced eccentric so that the pressure of the flywheel contributes tomodify the pressure of the contacts o at. There may be arranged behindthe spindle 5 a transverse rod pressing by means of a spring upon thefork 3, in such a way as to vary at will or even to withhold thepressure of the flywheel 1 uponthe movable arm C so as to give thelatter all liberty of movement necessary to the tones which it isdesired to obtain},

Fig. 5 represents a form of construction applicable like the precedingone, to the setting in vibration of a piano string A when the contactpiece a is closeto the string. This form of construction ischaracterized by the fact that the brakin takes plate un der variablepressure an with wedging. The same letters of reference designate thesame parts asin Figs. 3 and 4.

The amortiser or damping device consists of a loose ball 15 placedbetween a pallet 10 and an inclined trou h 17. The pallet 16 is hingedwith much Eriction at 18 upon the movable arm C; the trough 17 isprovided with a double friction held' joint 19, 20. The hinges 18, '19and 20 allow of regulating the relative position of the pallet 16 andtrough 17.

When at rest, the ball 14-. wedges by its weight the movable arm C. Whenthe current starts, the electromagnet e attracts the ball 15; themovable arm C becoming free is brought back by the spring L and thecontact a is broken. Immediately the electromagnet releases the ball 15which restores the contact 0 a; the same actions are repeatedsuccessively and the movable arm 0 takes up a movement of rapidoscillation. Nevertheless, owing to the wedging action of the ball '15,the amplitude of the oscillatory movement isvery, greatly reduced.

It is evident that in this device the electromagnet 6 can be arranged toact both upon the movable'arm C and upon the ball 15.

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 showa form of construction of the invention applied tothe setting in vibration of a steel gong. The same let ters of referencedesignate the same parts as in Figs. 1 and 2.. The electromagnet B bythe attraction oi its armature e effects simultaneously the setting invibration of the gong A and the breaking of the contact at 0 a.

The stirrup j in which is pivoted the shaft 70 of the flywheel k isindependent of the "pivot c and mounted in such a way that the shaft/tmay be perpendicular to the pivot 0. Moreover, the shaft 7:: might havebeen ar ranged'parallel to the pivot 0 by 'making the plate '3' bearupon one of the extreme faces or bases of the flywheel 70 the shafts kand 0 might also have been placed in any two concurring directions,because it is always possibleto find a plane perpendicular to the shaft0 and tangential to the.flywheel is.

Figs. 9 and 10 show a form of construction applied to the setting invibration of parts easy to stimulate as for example a vibrating plate.The same letters of reference designate the same parts as in Figs. 1 and2. The

vibrating plate A, forcibly gripped between two metal rings A carriesriveted thereon a non-oxidizing contact. piece a upon which there bearsa second non-oxidizing. contactpieces'c integral with the movable arm C;

The flywheel [2 mounted upon the shaft 0 is held between the shoulder a.of the shaft 0 and the spring 9' 9. double nut 0 allows of regulatingthe friction of the flywheel is upon the collar 0 and spring i so as toobtain the extent of damping desired.

It is moreover quite evident that the 'invention is not limited to theforms of construction thathavebeen described, and that it can be carriedout under all modifications based upon the same principle.- Thus forexample the braking may be 'obtainedby means of several flywheels fbreachcontact, these acting, separately upon;.'themovable arm C or actingsuccessively one.,upon another.

On the other hand the braking device. of

the present invention may lee-applied to all systems of interrupters orcontact-breakers,

whatever he the mode of suspension of the moving arm (pivot, spring,etc.), whatever be the method of control of the breaking of neticallyvibrated member, a contact vibrating in unison therewith, a secondvibratory contact coeperating with the first mentioned contact tocomplete the operating electro-magnetic circuit and means to damp thevibrations of said second contact.

2. In an electric circuit, an electro-magnetically vibrated member, acontact vibrating in unison therewith, a second vibratory contactcoiiperating with the first mentioned contact to complete the operatingelectro-magnetic circuit and brake means to damp the vibrations of saidsecond contact.

In an electric circuit, an electro-mag netically vibrated member, acontact vibrating in unison therewith, a second vibratory contactcoeperating with the first mentioned contact to complete the operatingelectro-magnetic circuit and inertia brake means to damp the vibrationsof said second contact. Y 4:. In an electric circuit, anelectro-magnetically vibrated member, a contact vibrattory contactcoiiperating with the first mentioned contact to complete the operatingelectro-magnetlc circuit and rotary brake means to damp the vibrationsof said second contact.

5. In an electric circuit, an electro-magnetically vibrated member,.acontact vibrating in unison therewith, a second vibratory contactcoiiperating with the first mentioned contact to complete the operatingelectro-magnetic circuit and rotary inertia brake means to damp thevibrations of said second contact. e

6. In an electric circuit, an electro-magnetically vibrated member, acontact vibrating in unison therewith,- a second vibratory contactcooperating with the first mem-' tioned contact to complete theoperating electro-magnetic. circuit and adjustable second contact.

7. In an electric circuit, an electro-mag-.

brake means'to damp the vibrations of said i i 105 ing in unisontherewith, a second vibra- I r tory contact cooperating with the firstmentioned contact to complete the operating electro-magnetic circuit, arocker arm carrying said second contact and brake means operating onsaid rocker arm to damp the vibrations of the contact carried thereby.

8. In an electric circuit, an electro-magnetioally vibrated member, acontact vibrating in unison therewith, a second vibratory contactcooperating "with the first mentioned contact to complete the operatingeleotro-magnetic circuit, electro-magnetic means in the operatingcircuit for vibrating said second contact and means to damp thevibrations of the latter.

9. In an electric circuit, an electro-magnetically vibrated member, acontact vibrating in unison therewith, a second vibratory contactcooperating with the first mentioned contact to complete the operatingelectro-magnetic circuit, a rocker arm carrying said second contact,electro-magnetic means in the operating circuit for vibrating said armand brake means operating on said rocker arm to damp the vibrations ofthe contact carried thereby.

10. In an electric circuit, an electro-magnetically vibrated member, acontact vibrating in unison therewith, a second vibratory contactcooperating with the first mentioned contact to complete the. operatingelectro-magnetic circuit, a rocker arm carrying said second contact,electro-magnetic means in the operating circuit for vibrating said'armand rotary brake means operating on said rocker arm to damp thevibrations of the contact carried thereby.

11. In an electric circuit, an electro-magnetically vibrated member, acontact vibrating in unison therewith, a second vibratory contactcooperating with the first mentioned contact to complete the operatingelectro-magnetic circuit, a rocker arm carrying said second contact,electro-magnetic means in the operating circuit for vibrating said armand adjustable brake means operating .on said rocker arm to damp thevibrations of the contact carried thereby.

12. In an electric circuit, an electro-mag netically vibrated member, acontact vibrating in unison therewith, a second vibratory contactcooperating with the first mentioned contact to complete the operatingelectro-magnetic circuit, a rocker arm carrying said second contact,electro-magnetic means in the operating circuit for vibrating said armand adjustable rotary brake means operating on said rocker arm to dampthe vibrations of the contact carried thereby.

13. In an electric circuit, an electro-magnetically vibrated member, acontact vibrating in unison therewith, a second vibratory contact.cooperating with the first mentioned contact to complete the operatingelectro-magnetic circuit, a rocker arm carrying said second contact,electro-magnetic means in the operating circuit for vibrating said armand brake means operating on said rocker arm to damp the vibrations ofthe contact carried thereby, together with spring means governing theaction of said brake.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of the four subscribing witnesses.

ALOIDE HECTOR MAi'lRE. moron HENRI GASTON MARTIN.

Witnesses:

FERNAND LINAULT, Louis COROUDE, EUGINE LEGIES, Lucian MENNUNGRE.

